Sitz bath

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a sitz bath comprising a bowl and more particularly, to a bowl having upwardly extending wings or flanges to embrace the seat of a toilet for medical treatment of the human body, the bowl having downwardly extending locking flanges located at the outer edge of each wing closely adjacent the sides of the toilet seat and lips to provide for overflow of medicinal liquid.

United States Patent [1 91 11 3,729,748 Perlman May 1, 1973 1 SITZ BATH 2,427,807 9/1947 Oliver ..4/6

3,365,729 l/l968 Perlman [75] Inventor. Richard J. Perlman, Worcester, 3,484,872 12/1969 Romberger Jr" Mass 3,654,636 4/1972 Restyanszki [73] Assignee: J.M.R. Enterprises, Inc., Worcester, 3,605,128 9/1971 Oden et a1. ..4/113 M ass Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis [22] Filed! 1971 AttorneyNorman S. Blodgett 21 A l.N 203 988 1 pp 0 57 ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 4/6 This invention relates to a sitz bath comprising a bowl [511 In. .Cl and more particularly, to a bowl having p y ex [58] /6 7 182 tending wings or flanges to embrace the seat of a toilet /248 for medical treatment of the human body, the bowl having downwardly extending locking flanges located at the outer edge of each wing closely adjacent the [56] References Cited sides of the toilet seat and lips to provide for overflow UNITED STATES PATENTS of medicinal q 2,251,039 7/1941 Da Silva ..4/6 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973 3,729,748

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

RICHARD J. PE RLMAN INVENTOR.

FIG. 2 I v v A TTORNE Y Patented May 1, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

SITZ BATH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many procedures both in home medicine and in a hospital use that require a small sitz bath. Not only is it used for personal hygiene in some situations, but, in the case of diseases or operations on the genitals, it is imperative to bathe them in medication. A good example of the situation is the post partem care of a woman who has had a child. Sitz baths have been developed in the past for use on a conventional toilet seat, thus making it possible readily to flush the used liquid into the toilet. Also, if medication liquid is used, the overflow passes directly into the toilet without splashing on the floor. Such sitz baths have been awkward and difflcult to use, particularly those that are placed directly on the toilet seat instead of on the ceramic toilet bowl itself. For instance, they have had a tendency to slide and lie at awkward angles. This results not only in excessive spillage, but also tends to make the level of liquid in the bowl inadequate for proper usage by the patient. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a sitz bath which can be used with the seat of a toilet.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a sitz bath whose position on a toilet seat is not readily accidentally changed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a sitz bath which is inexpensive to manufacture and which has a long life of useful service.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a sitz bath having locking flanges on which the user sits directly, the flanges being formed so as to be comfortable to the user.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a sitz bath which is neat in appearance and is readily kept clean.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sitz bath which is readily fastened to the seat of a toilet and when in use will not scratch or damage the toilet seat.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the invention consists of a sitz bath having a main portion with a notch directed longitudinally of a toilet seat and with laterally-directed flanges extending from the upper edge of the bowl in positions 90 away from the notch. The flanges are suitably curved to fit over the curved surface of the toilet seat and are provided with downwardly-directed locking flanges at their outer ends.

More specifically, the sitz bath is made of soft elastomer plastic which can adjust itself under the pressure of the user to the seat of the toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sitz bath embodying the principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the invention taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, which best shows the general features of the invention,- the sitz bath, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown in use with a conventional toilet 11. A toilet is provided in the usual way with a bowl 12, a water closet 13, a cover 14, and a seat 15. The sitz bath 10 is shown as having a main bowl 16 having a forwardly-directed notch 17. From the upper edges of the bowl extend lateral wings or flanges 18 and 19.

FIG. 2 shows that the main bowl 16 is provided with a flat oval-shaped bottom 21 from which rises a curved concave side surface 22 which terminates in an ovalshaped upper edge 23. The upper edge and the side 22 are, of course, interrupted by the front notch 17 and, in the preferred embodiment, by a rear notch 24. In this figure of the drawings, it can be seen that the flange 18 extends away from the edge of the bowl at one side and terminates at an outer edge 25 which is considerably straighter than the upper edge 23 of the bowl from which it extends; that is to say, it has a curvature outwardly of very large radius.

At the rear edge of the flange 18, the edge 25 is joined by a transverse straight edge portion 47 to the edge 23'of the bowl. At one side of the notch 24, the front portion of the edge 25 is connected by a semi-circular edge portion 26 to the upper edge 23 of the bowl adjacent the front notch 17. Extending downwardly from the underside of the flange 18 along the edge 25 is a downwardly-directed flange 28. Similarly, the flange 19 is provided with an outer edge 29 of a very large radius of curvature whose ends are joined to the back notch 24 by a straight transverse edge 31 and whose front end is connected to the notch 17 by a semi-circular edge portion 32. Extending from the edge 29 isa downwardly-directed flange 33.

Extending forwardly from the notch 17 is a web or lip 34, while a similar lip 35 extends rearwardly from the notch 24. In plan view,the back edgeof the lip 35 is almost coextensive with the edges 27 and 31 of the flanges 18 and 19, respectively. The front edge of the lip 34, however, is slightly curved in the forward direction. It is joined with the forwardly directed curves 26 and 32 of the flanges l8 and 19, respectively, by small concave transition curves.

FIG. 3 shows the manner in which the sitz bath rests on the legs 36 and 37 of the toilet seat 15. As is evident in the drawing, the flanges 18 and 19 are generally flat and horizontal but, because of the fact that the sitz bath is made in a unitary manner by vacuum molding from a soft, semi-elastomer plastic, such as polyethlene, it conforms readily to the shape of the toilet seat, particularly when it is being used. The pressure of the users body bends the flange around the seat cross-section. It can be seen that the flanges 28 and 33 extend downwardly below the edge of the seat.

FIG. 4 shows very well the considerable difference in structure of the two lips. The rear notch 24 and its lip 35 are relatively shallow and are located somewhat higher on the bowl than the forward notch 17 and its lip 34 so that, when used in the manner indicated in the drawing, most overflow would take place over the forward lip. The rearward lip is for ease in emptying the medication after use. In that case, it is only necessary to lift-the forward side of the sitz bath, to pull it forward and, at the same time, tilt it so that the medicinal fluid flows out through the notch 24 and over the lip 35.

FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the flange 19 is directed forwardly to provide the edge 32. Flange 18 extends forwardly in a similar manner to provide the edge 26, but it is not shown in this view. FIG. 5 also shows particularly well the way in which the flange 33 has i a lower edge which is substantially straight throughout its length, but at the ends is curved upwardly to join with the front and rear edgesof the flange 19; the downwardly directed flange 28 is similarly formed.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood in view of the above description. The sitz bath is placed on the toilet seat 15 with the flange 18 resting on the leg 36 of the toilet seat 15 and the flange 19 resting on the leg 37 of the toilet seat. As is evident in F IG. 4, the rear lip 35 rests at the rear or bight of the U-shaped toilet seat. The lip 34, of course, extends downwardly between the forward ends of the legs of the seat and the forwardly-extending portions of the flanges 18 and 19 extend forwardly over the upper surfaces of the ends of the legs of the seat. Medication in liquid form or a cleansing solution is poured into the bowl. The user seats himself on the sitz bath with his genital area resting in the solution. After the medical treatment or washing has taken place, the user rises and pulls the sitz bath in a forward direction, at the same time tipping the forward edge upwardly. This causes the solution to be poured out of the rear of the bowl over the lip 35 where it falls into the bowl 12 of the toilet and may be flushed.

It can be observed that the usual practice is to fill the bowl to the level of the front lip 34. Then, during use, when the level of liquid rises in the bowl, any overflow passes outwardly over the lip and downwardly into the toilet bowl. Because the flanges 18 and 19 are made of a soft, flexible sheet plastic, the sitz bath conforms readily to the seat and is comfortable to the user. Because the flanges 48 and 33 are locked on either side of the toilet seat, the sitz bath does not move around during use, and the proper relationship is maintained between the various parts of the bowl for proper usage. The same time, because of the soft nature of the plastic, there is no danger of scratching or otherwise damaging the surface of the toilet seat.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent A sitz bath for a toilet seat, comprising terminating in an upper edge, a notch in a forward portion of the upper edge,

. a flange extending laterally from the upper edge on either side of the notch to rest on and conform to the upper surface of the toilet seat, and

. a downwardly-extending locking flange located at the outer edge of each flange and adapted to lie closely adjacent the sides of a toilet seat.

2. A sitz bath as recited in claim 1, wherein each flange is provided with a semi-circular portion extending forwardly of the bowl on either side of the notch.

3. A sitz bath as recited in claim 1, wherein the bowl and flanges are integrally formed of polyethylene.

4. A sitz bath as recited in claim 1, wherein a second notch is formed in the upper edge of the bowl located diametrically of the first-mentioned notch.

5. A sitz bath as recited in claim 4, wherein each notch is provided with an outwardly-extending lip, the level of the lip on the second notch being located substantially higher above the said bottom of the bowl than the lip on the first-mentioned notch.

6. A sitZbath as recited in claim 5, wherein the outer edges of the flanges are curved with a substantially greater radius than the upper edge of the bowl.

7. A sitz bath as recited in claim 6, wherein the outer edge of the lip of the second notch and the rearward edges of the flanges all lie substantially in the same transverse plane.

. a bowl having a bottom and upwardly-rising sides 

1. A sitz bath for a toilet seat, comprising a. a bowl having a bottom and upwardly-rising sides terminating in an upper edge, b. a notch in a forward portion of the upper edge, c. a flange extending laterally from the upper edge on either side of the notch to rest on and conform to the upper surface of the toilet seat, and d. a downwardly-extending locking flange located at the outer edge of each flange and adapted to lie closely adjacent the sides of a toilet seat.
 2. A sitz bath as recited in claim 1, wherein each flange is provided with a semi-circular portion extending forwardly of the bowl on either side of the notch.
 3. A sitz bath as recited in claim 1, wherein the bowl and flanges are integrally formed of polyethylene.
 4. A sitz bath as recited in claim 1, wherein a second notch is formed in the upper edge of the bowl located diametrically of the first-mentioned notch.
 5. A sitz bath as recited in claim 4, wherein each notch is provided with an outwardly-extending lip, the level of the lip on the second notch being located substantially higher above the said bottom of the bowl than the lip on the first-mentioned notch.
 6. A sitz bath as recited in cLaim 5, wherein the outer edges of the flanges are curved with a substantially greater radius than the upper edge of the bowl.
 7. A sitz bath as recited in claim 6, wherein the outer edge of the lip of the second notch and the rearward edges of the flanges all lie substantially in the same transverse plane. 